Our Platform.
Hardware Prototypes
3D printing and laser cutting at our office, a budget for parts purchasing, on-site support for assembly and testing.
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Office Space
For startups based in NYC, we offer access to hot desks at Newlab, an interdisciplinary innovation center and community that supports entrepreneurs, engineers, and creative professionals.
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Startup Perks
Credits or discounts from Google Cloud, AWS, Hubspot, Notion, Airtable, Carta and many other tech startup services.
Accelerator Program.
- 4 months long twice a year – starting in March and August
- Currently equity-free for participating companies
- The program can be completed entirely remotely
87%
Raise their next round
$1.42B
Portfolio value
4.78 /5
Net promoter score
MINI Impact Program.
- 4 weeks long
- 3 weeks remote part-time
- 1 week on site at URBAN-X NYC full-time November or December
- In partnership with the MINI Markets, participation only for selected countries
Timeline for 2024
Call for Applications:
Open Now
Remote Phase:
Oct 21 – Nov 8 (3 weeks)
On-Site in NYC:
Nov 11 - 15 (1 week)
Idea Stage
Understanding your customer - learn and apply a framework to focus on their potential customers and their pain point.
Building your roadmap – integrate all the elements of product development and go to market strategy into an overall plan.
Pitching your solution – put together a pitch deck and deliver a compelling narrative to potential investors.
Seed Stage
Product and pitch review – the URBAN-X team will review both hardware and software products, giving feedback and strategic input for future development.
Entering the US Market – make connections with potential clients and distributors based in the US, and with resources to support a market launch.
US Based supply chain – get a rough analysis on what it would take to make your product in the US.
India – Mexico – Japan – Malaysia – Italy – The UK – The Netherlands
FAQs
We specialize in solving the problems of cities, with a focus on climate and social impact. Our startups operate in specific sectors like Built Environment, Food Waste Water, Energy and Infrastructure, Mobility, and Community. A minor portion of our founders are in mobility. In creating URBAN-X, MINI’s intention is to make cities better and more sustainable overall.
There are other differentiators from other accelerators, such as our team of experts in residence, our asynchronous model, and our selection process.
Yes. We encourage startups to reapply and to update us on their progress and we’ve accepted startups on their second application.
Companies from past programs can be found here. All of them were at a seed or pre-seed stage when they joined URBAN-X and you can sort them through their current growth stage.
Currently, and starting with accelerator Cohort 11 (Fall 2022), we do not provide funding, and consequently do not take equity. Same with the Impact Program.
The Accelerator program is structured around two core activities – weekly meetings with the mentors and hands-on sprints with experts. The sprints are customized depending on the needs of your company and team and the goal is to help with specific adjustments for each startup. Please see what a typical participation in the URBAN-X Accelerator looks like (on medium).
The MINI Impact Program culminates with a week in NYC, usually sometime in the fall. One or two founders from each participating company are required to be at Newlab in-person and available full-time (airfare and hotel are covered). During that week, you’ll have tailor made sessions on pitch deck, strategy, product, business development, and other relevant topics, with our experts in residence. You’ll also have time to schedule meetings with potential funders, distributors, or other stakeholders. The 3 weeks prior are for preparations and introductions. Please see what a typical participation in the MINI Impact Program looks like (on medium).
For the Accelerator you don’t need to be in the US, since you can participate in the entire program remotely. However, since we are based in NYC, we are mostly able to help with companies that have a presence in the US or solid plans to develop one.
For the MINI Impact Program, you are required to be in-person and available full-time for the week in NYC, for which airfare and hotel expenses are covered.
We evaluate each applicant by the amount of impact the company can have, who is on the team, what experiences they have, the company’s approach to urban problems, the type and amount of competition the company will face and how much risk is associated with their proposed solutions. We look for founders who have a growth mindset and learn quickly, who are relentless, and who are deliberate about their culture. Here is an article on medium that talks more about what we’re looking for.
We won’t unfortunately, but there are lots of entrepreneurship programs out there. Good luck with finding your match!
Yes, sometimes, we do. We have a strong focus on solving the challenges that cities are facing, particularly in relation to climate change, and sometimes there are two or more good approaches to one of these challenges. Because these problems are massive and timely, not only there’s usually room for several solutions, but we just can’t afford to neglect a good one.
In practice, the different approaches make for different products and beachhead markets, so there’s no real early-stage overlap. In any case, we don’t talk to one company about what the other is doing.
That depends on the program you are looking to participate in. See our APPLY page.
No, we currently only work with for-profit venture businesses.
Yes, please do! Referrals and applicants can apply here.
